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Department of Justice
Former Everett Man Indicted on Wire Fraud, Social Security Misuse and Identity Theft
BOSTON – A former Everett man was indicted today on identity theft and fraud charges in connection with schemes to fraudulently obtain an apartment and pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Department of Justice
Michigan Man Arrested for Unemployment Fraud and Identity Theft Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A Michigan man was arrested yesterday in Michigan in connection with his alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme to obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance.
Department of Justice
Three Men Charged For COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud
LAS VEGAS – Three men made their initial appearances in federal court today for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to apply for and use Nevada and California unemployment insurance benefits debit cards — approved for over $900,000 — that were issued in other peoples’ names.
Department of Justice
Salem Man Pleads Guilty to Small Business Loan Fraud and Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns
BOSTON – A Salem man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with two fraud schemes involving COVID-19 relief funds and tax returns for other individuals.
Department of Justice
South Florida Man Charged with Covid-19 Relief Fraud, Buying Lamborghini, Rolex, and Louis Vuitton with Loan Money
A Florida man charged with fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) made his first appearance today in federal magistrate court in Ft. Lauderdale.
Department of Justice
Charlestown Man Pleads Guilty to Identity Fraud Charges
BOSTON – A Charlestown man who has been living under a false identity pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to charges arising from his use of the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen.
Department of Justice
Rhode Island Man Admits to Defrauding COVID Relief Unemployment Programs in Eight States
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Rhode Island man today pled guilty to his role in a conspiracy to file fraudulent applications for COVID unemployment relief funds in at least eight states, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Department of Justice
Four Charged in $35 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme
A federal grand jury in Houston returned a superseding indictment, which was unsealed today, charging four additional individuals for fraudulently obtaining and laundering millions of dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In total, 15 individuals across two states have now been charged in the conspiracy.
Department of Justice
Reading Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Identity Theft Charges
BOSTON – A Reading man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston today in connection with a scheme to defraud an elderly relative of her interest in a three-family home and a separate scheme to defraud the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance.
Department of Justice
Tampa Men Sentenced For Fraud And Identity Theft In COVID Benefits Conspiracy
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Mizelle has sentenced Kary Stevenson (47) and Corey Quinn (35), both of Tampa, for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft related to COVID unemployment insurance benefits. Stevenson was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison and Quinn was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison. As part of their sentence, the court also ordered Stevenson and Quinn to pay $87,046 in restitution to the various state workforce agencies they defrauded.
Department of Justice
Dominican National Arrested for Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A Dominican National residing in Boston was arrested today for allegedly using others’ identities to fraudulently obtain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits.
Department of Justice
Florida Man Sentenced To Prison For COVID-19 Related Unemployment Insurance Fraud Conspiracy And Identity Theft
LAS VEGAS – A Florida man was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess and use California Employment Development Department (EDD) debit cards issued in other people’s names.
Department of Justice
Malden Man Sentenced for COVID-Relief Fraud and Identity Theft
BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced today in connection with submitting fraudulent applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The federal PUA program provides unemployment-related benefits to individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19.
Department of Justice
Former New Bedford Man Sentenced for Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A former New Bedford man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston on federal wire fraud charges arising from claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) funds.
Department of Justice
Leicester Man Pleads Guilty to Unemployment and Loan Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A Leicester man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester in connection with his involvement in loan and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) fraud schemes.
Department of Justice
San Fernando Valley Family Members Sentenced to Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Tens of Millions of Dollars in COVID Relief
Three members of a San Fernando Valley family have been sentenced – two of them in absentia after they fled justice following their convictions at trial – to years in federal prison for scheming to fraudulently obtain more than $20 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) COVID-19 relief funds.
Department of Justice
Seven Members of Los Angeles-Based Fraud Ring Sentenced for Multimillion-Dollar COVID-19 Relief Scheme
Seven members of a Los Angeles-based fraud ring were sentenced for a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $20 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) COVID-19 relief funds.
Department of Justice
Pair indicted for defrauding COVID-19 benefit programs
Seattle – A Seattle area pair was indicted today in the Western District of Washington, for more than $1 million in fraud on COVID-19 relief programs, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.
Department of Justice
Texas Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A Texas woman pleaded guilty today to her involvement in a scheme to fraudulently claim COVID-19-related unemployment assistance.
Department of Justice
Rhode Island Man Arrested for Unemployment Fraud Scheme Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was arrested today in Michigan and charged in federal court in Boston in connection with his alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme to obtain over $450,000 in COVID-19-related unemployment assistance.
New York Office of the State Comptroller
Enterprise Fraud, Waste and Abuse Prevention and Detection: Annual Report to the New York State Legislature
The COVID-19 pandemic drove the Office of the New York State Comptroller to move forward creatively and identify new ways to tap into and analyze data. Auditors and examiners pursued increased data analysis and used a wider variety of data sources in audit planning and risk assessment, including the Statewide Financial System, First New York data warehouse, New York Benefits Eligibility and Accounting System, CVS Health, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, as well as internal State agency data.
Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit
Evaluating the Kansas Department of Labor’s Response to COVID-19 Unemployment Claims (Part 2)
This audit report assessed what factors caused delays in the Kansas Department of Labor’s unemployment claims processing during the COVID-19 pandemic? To answer this question, we spoke with officials from the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and reviewed KDOL staffing, incident, and call center reports. This audit also includes an updated unemployment insurance fraud estimate. In February 2021 we released the first part of this audit. In that audit we reported a preliminary estimate of how much fraud could have occurred in Kansas in 2020. In this report, we used KDOL claims data from January...
Department of Justice
Former Department of Unemployment Assistance Employee Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Identity Theft Charges Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A former employee of the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) pleaded guilty today to fraud and identity theft charges arising from her claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) funds.
Department of Justice
Prison Inmates Among Four Defendants Indicted for Unemployment Insurance Fraud
Department of Justice
Two Charged with Participating in Fraudulent Schemes Related to the Covid-19 Pandemic
Department of Justice
California Woman Pleads Guilty To Unemployment Benefits Fraud
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Santa Clarita woman pleaded guilty today to her role in a conspiracy to use other peoples’ personal information — without their consent — to unlawfully apply for and obtain over $250,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from the California Employment Development Department (EDD).
Department of Justice
Tulsa Man Sentenced for Applying for Paycheck Protection Program Loans under False Pretenses
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man who fraudulently applied for Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was sentenced today in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Arizona Auditor General
Report on Internal Control and on Compliance Year Ended June 30, 2020
Based on our audit of the State’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, we reported internal control weaknesses and instances of noncompliance over financial reporting. For example, the Department of Economic Security did not put all critical identity-verification or other anti-fraud measures in place before paying federal CARES Act unemployment insurance benefits and reported it paid over $4 billion in fraudulent identity theft unemployment insurance benefits claims through September 4, 2021, when the benefits ended.
Department of Justice
Stoneham Woman Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A Stoneham woman pleaded guilty today in connection with her involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance using stolen identities.
Department of Justice
Miami Woman Indicted for Wire Fraud and Identity Theft Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A Miami woman was indicted yesterday in connection with allegedly filing for and obtaining fraudulent pandemic-related loans and using those funds for personal expenses.
Department of Justice
Bond Denied for Alleged 77th Street Gang Member Charged with Federal Gun and Covid-19 Fraud Crimes
Reversing a federal magistrate judge’s ruling, United States District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr. has ordered that Kenny Terlent, 19, will remain in a federal detention center without bond pending his trial on charges of illegally possessing a machine gun, identity theft, and Covid-19 benefit related fraud.
Department of Justice
Former New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to False Pandemic Unemployment Claims
BOSTON – A former New Bedford man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston yesterday to federal wire fraud charges arising from claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) funds.
Department of Justice
Stoneham Man Indicted for Identity Theft and Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
BOSTON – A Stoneham man was indicted today in connection with his alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme to obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance.
Department of Justice
Twenty-Two Charged in Connection with a More than $11-Million Paycheck Protection Program Fraud Scheme
Seventeen more individuals have been charged in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain approximately $11.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and to use those funds to purchase luxury vehicles, jewelry and other personal items.
Department of Justice
Lawrence Woman Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON – A Lawrence woman pleaded guilty today in connection with her involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19-related unemployment assistance.
Department of Justice
Leicester Woman and Man Charged in Superseding Indictment in COVID-19 Pandemic Scheme
BOSTON – A Leicester woman and man were charged in a superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Worcester in connection with their alleged involvement in a pandemic unemployment fraud scheme.
Department of Justice
Two Sentenced to over 5 Years in Prison for COVID-19 Unemployment Benefit Fraud Scheme
Department of Justice
Four L.A. County Residents Found Guilty of Fraudulently Obtaining Millions of Dollars from COVID-Relief Programs
A federal jury has found four Los Angeles-area residents guilty of criminal charges for scheming to submit fraudulent loan applications seeking millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) COVID-19 relief funds.
Improper Payments in the Unemployment Insurance Program: Deceased Recipients
The purpose of this audit was to identify potentially improper payments the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) made to deceased individuals. We found that, of the approximately $8.57 billion in State and Federal Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit payments made by LWC, approximately $1.08 million (0.013%) was paid to 374 individuals after they died. Of that amount, $629,091 in payments could not have been prevented, $337,007 of the payments should have been prevented by LWC’s current controls, and $123,194 could have been prevented if LWC conducted a weekly match with the Louisiana...
Department of Justice
Serial Fraudster Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Fraud Schemes Resulting in Losses of More Than $1 Million
U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander today sentenced Robert Lee Snowden Jr., age 45, of Owings Mills, Maryland, to 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and for aggravated identity theft, in connection with a series of fraud schemes perpetrated between 2013 and 2020. Additionally, Judge Hollander ordered that Snowden pay restitution of $1,021,583.72.
New Mexico Office of the State Auditor
COVID-19 Related Fraud Alert: Unemployment Benefits
The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) and the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) are reminding New Mexicans to be aware as fraudsters perpetuate numerous schemes related Unemployment Insurance Claims. New Mexicans are urged to follow the guidance provided below and take immediate action as recommended to protect themselves.
Department of Justice
Malden Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-Relief Fraud and Identity Theft
BOSTON – A Malden man pleaded guilty today to identity fraud charges in connection with submitting fraudulent applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The federal PUA program provides unemployment-related benefits to individuals who have been impacted by COVID-19.
Small Business Administration OIG
SBA’s Handling of Identity Theft in the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this Evaluation report to notify Small Business Administration (SBA) officials of significant matters regarding its handling of complaints of identity theft in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.We recommend the Administrator to direct the Associate Administrator for the Office of Disaster Assistance, the Chief Financial Officer for the Office of Performance Management and Chief Financial Officer, and the Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access to:1. Develop a process to maintain...
New York Office of the State Comptroller
The Increasing Threat of Identity Theft
This report summarizes identity theft trends in New York during the coronavirus pandemic.
Washington Office of the State Auditor
Fraud Investigation Report: Employment Security Department
This report contains the results of our investigation of the illegitimate unemployment claims and payments at the Department from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The purpose of our investigation was to determine if a misappropriation had occurred and to provide the Department with recommendations to improve internal controls.
Washington Office of the State Auditor
Washington's Unemployment Benefit Programs in 2020: Understanding Improper Payments and Service Delays During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The novel coronavirus quickly became a global pandemic in 2020. In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES Act to help provide support for those affected by the pandemic. Washington’s Employment Security Department administers the state’s unemployment compensation program. From early in the pandemic, news organizations reported on customer service delays and fraud in Washington’s Unemployment Insurance program. Th is audit examines the scope of and reasons behind substantial fraud and customer service delays in the state’s unemployment benefits program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Justice
Tulsa Couple Plead Guilty to Bank Fraud After Applying for Paycheck Protection Program Loans under False Pretenses
TULSA, Okla. - A Tulsa couple who fraudulently applied for Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act pleaded guilty in federal court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Department of Justice
Four local individuals charged in separate pandemic relief fraud schemes
CINCINNATI – Four local individuals have been charged federally with defrauding COVID-19 pandemic relief funding programs. In separate cases, the four are alleged to have lied about owning businesses and employing others. Some defendants allegedly applied multiple times for relief funding and some allegedly spent the funding they received on lavish personal items and vacation travel.
Department of Justice
Justice Department Warns About Fake Post-Vaccine Survey Scams
The Department of Justice has received reports that fraudsters are creating fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine surveys for consumers to fill out with the promise of a prize or cash at the conclusion of the survey. In reality, the surveys are used to steal money from consumers and unlawfully capture consumers’ personal information.
Department of Justice
Serial Fraudster Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Steal Mail, Stealing Benefits Under the Cares Act, and Aggravated Identity Theft
U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Nicholas Milano White, age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, on March 30, 2021, to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the federal charges of conspiracy to steal mail, emergency benefits fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Judge Bennett also ordered White to pay restitution of $29,234, the full amount of the victims’ losses.
Department of Justice
Southern District of Florida Takes Sweeping Action Against CARES Act Fraud
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the United States Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and representatives from their partner law enforcement agencies announced today an update on their criminal enforcement efforts in South Florida to combat fraud under the CARES Act, the relief legislation that Congress passed one year ago to help individuals and businesses financially survive the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the enforcement efforts announced today include prosecutions against defendants accused of trying to...
Department of Justice
Two Postal Service Employees Face Federal Charges of Using Funds from Unemployment Insurance Scheme to Buy Postal Money Orders
Federal authorities this morning arrested two employees of the U.S. Postal Service who allegedly abused their positions to purchase and cash Postal money orders with tens of thousands of dollars of unemployment benefits fraudulently obtained with false claims of COVID-related job losses.
Department of Justice
Seminole County Man Charged With COVID Relief Fraud
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Don V. Cisternino (45, Chuluota) with two counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, and three counts of illegal monetary transactions. If convicted, Cisternino faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count, up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each illegal monetary transaction count, and a mandatory consecutive term of two years for the aggravated identity theft counts.
Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit
Evaluating the Kansas Department of Labor's Response to COVID-19 Unemployment Claims (Part 1)
This audit attempts to answer the following question. What types of unemployment claims fraud schemes is the Kansas Department of Labor aware of and how are they being addressed?
California State Auditor
Employment Development Department: Significant Weaknesses in EDD's Approach to Fraud Prevention Have Led to Billions of Dollars in Improper Benefits Payments
Since the surge in pandemic‑related California unemployment claims began in March 2020, individuals, news organizations, and law enforcement officials have reported many cases of potential and actual UI fraud. Not surprisingly, the pandemic conditions increased EDD’s UI workloads and also resulted in changes to federal UI benefit programs, both of which have created a greater risk of fraud.
Washington Office of the State Auditor
Financial Statements Audit Report: For the Period July 1, 2019 Through June 30, 2020
State management is responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining internal controls to ensure the financial statements are fairly presented, and to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and to prevent and detect fraud. We identified deficiencies in internal controls at the Employment Security Department (ESD) that adversely affected the State’s ability to prevent and detect fraud.
Iowa Office of the Auditor of State
Auditor Sand Advises Governmental Entities to be Wary of Fake Unemployment Claims
This notification was an advisory notice for representatives of all governmental entities to carefully verify information received in an any correspondence received from IWD regarding claims for unemployment insurance benefits, as unknown parties are attempting to file fraudulent unemployment insurance claims as if they were former employees of certain governmental entities.
West Virginia Legislative Auditor's Office
Special Report: Workforce West Virginia Unemployment Claims Data
The objective of this report was to provide information on the unprecedented number of unemployment claims filed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount paid in fraudulent claims, and the causes for many fraudulent claims being paid. We found that WorkForce West Virginia Paid Nearly $83 Million in Fraudulent Unemployment Claims During the COVID-19 Pandemic.